Combined can opener and stopper



COMBINED CAN OPENER AND STOPPEB' Filed Oct. 19. 1921 mm W zmmwzi Zawn/0M0: 70

' A. G-flmderson aw w M containing some liquid, and

Patented Aug. 28, 1923,

UNITED STATES ALISRED omunnannnnasou, OESALT LAKE CITY, UTA-H.

COMBINED CAN OPENER AND STOPPER.

Application filed October 19 1921. Serial No. 508,796.

' T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFREDO. ANDERSON, .a citizen of the United States,residing at in the county of Salt Lake Salt Lake City, and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CombinedCan-Openers and Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a combined can opener and stopper forcans con-- taining liquid substances such as condensed milk, sirup,fruit juices, paints and varnishes, and the like. a

The object of the invention is to providean implement of this characterwhich first punches a couple of holes in the top'for emptyin the can,and then also serves as a closure or these openings in case the canshould not be drained at one time. For this purpose the implement issecured to the can and remains in this position until the can has beenemptied, when it may be removed and applied to another can.

In the accompanying drawing one em-' bodiment of my invention isillustrated, and Figure 1 shows in perspective view the can opener andstopper secured to the top of a can;

Figure 2 is an elevation in partial section the implement in use; andFigure 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of re 2. eference numeral 10represents the can central post .of the implement. 2, Securely fastenedto the upper end of the post 11 is a head 12 which is preferablyknurledand the lower end of the shank is provided with a threaded point13. A shoulder 14 is formed on the shank and against which is" tightlypressed a washer or collar 15, whichrmay be integral with the shank-andto this collar a rubber packing 16 is held. l

On the straight portion or shank of the post 11 is mounted a bridgepiece 17 adapted to seat against collar 15 and revolubly and slidablyconnected with the post 11. This bridgepiece has two arms 18 extendingin diametrically opposite directions and providedv at their extremitieswith a tapered point or knife edge 19. This point or knife edge is alsoformed with a shoulder 20.

ing 25 ml 11 the.

which tends to press the against the collar 15. The can opener isattached in the followmg manner:

The implement is placed on top of the can to be opened with its threaded(end 13 approximately in the center of the top, and after a slight blowhas been delivered on the head 12 to pierce the metal on the can, thepost is screwed down tightly by turning the head 12 of the post 11,until the washer 16 is compressed so as to make the opening, produced inthe top of the can, air-tight. By next pressing on each end of thebridge member 17, the tapered points 19 will .pro duce a pair oflongitudinal slits" or holes 25 in the top of the can. It will now beevient that the spring 22 tends to press the bridge member-downwardlyand at the same bridge piece 17 pered' points or knife edges 19 and thewasher 21, thereby also making these holes air-tight.

The implement might now be left in this position until the contents ofthe can are used, when the bridge piece 17 is first lifted and thenturned about a quarter turn around the post 11, as indicated in fulllines in Figure 1, leaving the openings 25 free.

- The can. may now be tilted preferably with one opening lowermost andthe otheropenuppermost, and the contents will then run out of the loweropening, and the air pass into the can through the upper openingpermitting free passage ofthe liquid from the can. tity of the liquidhas been poured out, the bridge piece is turned back until the taperedpoints 19 register with the openings 25, as Indicated in dot-and-dashlines in Figure 1, and the spring 22, pressing against the bridge member17, will close the openings tightly through the cooperation of thewashers 21.

It has been found that it is immaterial what position the can has afterthe implement has been applied, standing upright or lying on the side,down, as the stoppers formed by the tapered points '19 and the washers21 form a perfectly air-tight closure.

It is evident that in some instances it might be desirable to providemore than two polnts, and a modification of this kind will be covered bythe scope of the invention.

With the points 19 in the shape of knife When a sufiicient quan- I oreven standing-upside edges as shown in the drawing, and particularly inFigures 2 and 3, the advantage is gained that the entire top of the canmay be removed after first punching the holes and then revolving thebridge member 17 a half turn. The cut out portion of the top can then belifted by means of the can opener without falling into the can.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A can opener comprising a central post with ahead and a threaded end, ashoulder adjacent said threaded end and awasher under said shoulder, atwo armed handle slidably and revolubly mounted on said post betweensaid head and said washer, a, pointed double edged knife rigidly securedat each end of said arms at the same radial end.

In testimony whereo'f ll afiix my signature.

' ALFRED UILANDER ANDERSON. [L. 5.]

